Substitute suspension rig for grab buckets



Jan, 9, 1923. W. E HARRiSONi SUBSTITUTE SUSPENSION RIG FOR GRAB BUCKETS.

INVENTOR.-

JL/GFFIGOKZ.

r 323 ATTQRN S Patented Jan. 9, 19233.

WILLIAM E. nannrson, or

YOUNGSTOKVN, OHIO.

SUBSTITUTE SUSPENSION EIGFOR GRAB BUCKETS.'

To all whom it may come m1 Be it known that I, ii innilmr l5. HARRISON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Youngstown, county of Mahoning, and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Substitute Suspension .aigs for Grab Buckets, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

This invention relates to a substitute sus pension rig for grab buckets and more particularly involves a novel form of cross bar carried by a pair of hoisting cables and connected by a second pair of cables with a cross-head adapted to be applied in place of the usual rig for operating such buckets.

Heretofore it has been customary to utilize a cross-bar having apair of transverse openings at the ends through which the drum and bucket cables were looped, the lower pair of cables extending about sheave wheels upon the cross head and thence extending to a pointof attachment upon the supporting frame of the bucket. Such construction is expensive and liable to get out of order and at the same time provides more operating mechanism than has been found to be necessary for most purposes for which a bucket of this character is utilized.

The object of my invention is to simplify the construction of the suspension rig and provide an operating means suitable for most purposes for which a grab bucket is i11- tended to be used which may be readily substituted for the more complex rig referred to. Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however. but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawin Fig. 1 is a side elevation snowing my substitute suspension rig applied to a grab bucket; Fig. 2 is a detail view of the drum and bucket cables and crossbar and crosshead connections; Fig. 3 is a detail plan view ings or sockets of one-end of the crossbar; and Fig.4 is a detailed cross sectional view of the part shown in Fig. 3, taken along the line 4l4 of said i'igurelooking in the direction of the arrows and showing the cable ends applied thereto.

As shown in the drawing, the cross bar 1 is provided at each of its ends with a pair of *ertically extending reversely tapered open- 2, 3, of a size suitable toreceive the drum and bucket cables 4, 5. The ends of the drum or suspensioncables a from thehoisting mechanism are preferably passed dowinvardly through the outer of said cable receiving cocketsil and secured therein inan upwardly direction in said upwardly tapered sockets. Theends ofthe support ing cables 5 for the bucket 11 arepassedup: wardly through the inner pair of sockets 2 and secured therein by means of wedge blocks 7 driven in a downwardly direction in said downwardly tapered sockets. This fastening means simplifies the operation of at taching the cables, prevents wear, and also serves to throw the strain upon the whole body of the cables in a direction of their length rather than unequally upon the various strands thereof as where the transverse sockets are used and the drum and bucket cables are looped therethrough in the ordinary way.

The supporting cables 5 for the bucket are each attached to the cross-head 12 by means of a thimble 13 provided with cars 14 apertured to receive a pivot pin 15 by means of which they are secured to apertured lugs 16 upon opposite ends of the cross-head. Centrally of the cross-head 12 an extension 17 is provided through which a transverse aperture 18 is formed to receive a pivot pin 19 for attaching the same to the connecting bar 521 of the bucket. This connection may be made in the usual manner by a pivot pin passed through the ears on said connecting bar and through the aperture in said extension.

From the above description the operation of the bucket will be obvious. The cross bar is engaged beneath a hook member 23 upon the bucket supporting frame 24 and the weight of the parts serves to hold the bucket halves in open position.

When the bucket has been lowe red upon the material which it is desired to operate upon, the continued lowering of the hoisting by means of wedge blocks 6, driven cables disengages the cross bar from the hook member and the hoisting oi the cables thereafter entirely trees it from said hook and exerts tension upon the cross head and through it upon the bucket structure at the pivot points of the bucket halves exerting a powerful closing force upon said bucket portions and scooping up the material embraced between said bucket sections. The dumping of the bucket is brought about when the weight is taken off the hoisting cables and the bucket halves are permitted to freely expand through the action of the weight of the parts upon said pivot point.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A substitute rig for grab buckets comprising a cross bar, cable sockets in the ends of said cross bar, cables engaged in said cable sockets, means for securing said cables in said sockets, a cross head secured to the nai -rises lower ends of certain. of said cables and means for attaching said cross head to the central pivot bar o't said bucket.

2. A substitute rig for grab buckets comprising a cross bar and a cross head joined by a pair of cables, a. pair of cable sockets for attaching said cables to said cross head, a socket and wedge connection for attaching said cables to said cross bar and a second set of socket and wedge connecting elements for attaching'the hoistingcables to said cross bar.

3. it substitute rig for grab buckets comprising a cross bar and cross head, a pair of connecting cables secured at their ends to each of said elements a pair of reversely tapered socket .1 each end of said cross bar, a pair of hoisting cables connected to said cross bar by means of wedges engagingupwardly tapered sockets therein and saidpair oi? connecting cables being attached to said cross bar by means of wedges engaging downwardly tapered sockets in the ends of said cross bar.

Signed by me this 24L day of September, 1921.

'WILLIAM E. HARRISON. 

